Ukrzaliznytsia and Rail Cargo Austria have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of intermodal transportation between Ukraine and Austria. The relevant memorandum was signed by the parties on September 14, 2023.
“We continue to develop intermodal services and integrate the Ukrainian railway into the European space. With this memorandum, we are starting to work on the implementation of intermodal transportation between our countries. Currently, we are assessing the possibilities of establishing regular rail connections of this type between Kyiv and Vienna, considering routes through Lviv and Budapest to include as many major cities as possible,” said Vyacheslav Yeryomin, a member of the board of Ukrzaliznytsia.
The parties also discussed the possibility of operating grain cars of Ukrzaliznytsia in Hungary and Slovakia and the specifics of customs clearance for import and export operations of intermodal transportation.
According to the memorandum, as part of the implementation of the intermodal transportation development project, Ukrzaliznytsia will be responsible for traction rolling stock, intermodal broad-gauge wagons, terminal services, and customs formalities in Ukraine, while Rail Cargo Group, which includes Rail Cargo Austria, will be responsible for these points in the EU.
The project is expected to start in 2023, and the parties have agreed on a preliminary test transport of semi-trailers on the Kyiv-Budapest route in September.
It’s worth noting that Ukrzaliznytsia is implementing a new combined intermodal service to integrate into the European transport system. Additionally, on March 1, 2023, an experimental test shipment was sent on the Kyiv-Lisky-Chop route to approve the temporary loading scheme and further develop container transportation.
